title: Metabolism of (-) deprenyl to amphetamine and methamphetamine may be responsible for deprenyl's therapeutic benefit: a biochemical assessment.
abstract: The urinary excretion of some important phenylethylamines, catecholamines, their metabolites, amphetamine, and methamphetamine were measured in parkinsonian patients on Sinemet (L-dopa plus carbidopa, a peripheral dopadecarboxylase inhibitor) and depressed patients after chronic (-) deprenyl treatment. Deprenyl was efficiently metabolized to amphetamine and methamphetamine. It increased the excretion of phenylethylamine and of m- and p-tyramine, and reduced the output of norepinephrine metabolites, but failed to alter the excretion of dopamine-deaminated metabolites. These changes were attributed more to amphetamine and methamphetamine than to inhibition of monoamine oxidase type B. Sinemet treatment alone increased the excretion of dopamine, 3-methoxytyramine, and their respective deaminated metabolites, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid. It is concluded that conversion of deprenyl to amphetamine and methamphetamine may contribute to some of the therapeutic benefits of deprenyl.
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D012642:Selegiline / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014439:Tyramine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010627:Phenethylamines; C009265:carbidopa, levodopa drug combination; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012642:Selegiline; D008694:Methamphetamine; D007980:Levodopa; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D002230:Carbidopa; D014439:Tyramine